Prototype PCB Manufacturing Guide
How to choose prototype PCB options that support successful PCBA later.
What matters in prototype PCB manufacturing
Prototype PCB manufacturing is about speed and learning, but it still needs enough quality to support debugging, assembly, and iteration.
Good prototype PCB decisions make downstream PCBA and SMT work easier by reducing pad issues, stackup confusion, and avoidable BOM risk.
Prototype to PCBA handoff
Design review before SMT
Before you move from prototype PCB to PCBA, check footprints, polarity marks, fiducials, stencil assumptions, and assembly clearances for SMT processing.
Data package quality
Clean Gerber, BOM, CPL, revision notes, and test expectations help a PCB prototype transition into an efficient PCBA build.